by Tony White
I dont know maybe she look up for like a second or something anyway and there was a thief just stand right in front of her. She didnt even know how long him been standing there he might a been there for like five minutes or something. And she never seen this rude boy before but him stand there and look at Foxy-T like him try fe read her face init and for some reason that girl think him look nervous way him do that. And him just stand there looking at her right in her eyes man. And it was like this rude boy see right inside her in the way like she could see right inside them computer them or whatever and know whats going on in there well thats the way this thief was look at her init and it was like him maybe forgot what him plan fe rob or whatever cause them both just froze and looking into each other eyes for what seem like hours but was probaly only like a minute. And Foxy-T aint notice that music no more is it she just be look at him and notice that this thief wearing nice jeans and a Giorgio top and over that a short black leather jacket but good quality. And she even had one hand on that machete under the Metro what a fold up there on the top of the lockup cabinet but Foxy-T couldnt move or nothing and she felt like she being strip open and expose by this young thief and like she fill up with him eyes and like she cant breathe init. And this thief still just stand there and aint afraid of her at all believe me. And through all a this Foxy-T aint quite all there is it. It was still feel like she was day dream and she was probaly try fe make herself pick up that machete and tell him to like fuck off out of it but before she could even move or think straight or whatever him just turn and slowly walk out of the shop there. And him walk out real slow through that thick gold air init as if him have all the time in the world and nothing she could do was ever go make him do nothing him no want. And what shake up Foxy-T so bad was that she knowed this was what him a thinking and she knowed that he was right. She couldnt a done nothing even if she wanted to and the worse part of all this was that she knowed she never want fe do nothing anyway. Believe me there was no fight left in that girl or nothing. And by the time she like pull her self together and get out the door him half way down to the One Stop and she just watch him look back at her then get in him Golf or whatever and slowly drive away. And then him gone and Foxy-T is left just stand there and stare down Cannon Street Road at him indicator light flash as him turn left into Bigland Street and never even think fe check him registration or nothing. She want fe run after him init but she know that she couldnt even have caught him now because him long gone and she couldnt leave the shop without no one at the front or some other robber might come in and try fe nick whatever. So she just stand there and think about what she would maybe do if she found him or if she had of chase after him. But she knowed that if he come back again when she was in the shop on her own she wouldnt be able to do nothing then neither. Cause this thief a seen right inside her init and him knowed just like she knowed that she couldnt do nothing about him. And if you saw her then you probaly only think she look a bit more dreamy than usual and a bit blotchy on her neck and a bit wild eyed like only now him gone was she getting afraid of what might of happen or what she wanted to happen. What she knowed she wanted.
She was so out of it just standing there in the doorway like that that she probaly didnt even notice that Ruji-Babes and them was back and them two is get out of him car. And Ruji-Babes cousin say ‘Yes T’ nuff time init before that girl wake up and check them two is reach. But she still distract init and dont say nothing only smile and step back in the E-Z Call. And he look at Ruji-Babes and raise him eyebrow in Foxy-T direction but then him mobile ring and him say, ‘Listen Rooj something come up man. Later yeah,’ and then him get back in the car and them gone.
Ruji-Babes follow Foxy-T back in when him gone and say, ‘You alright T? What’s going on man?’
And thats when Foxy-T wake up init and probaly look around and see all them computer screen working normally and a couple a people checking fe them email or whatever and that old Somali guy what live in them old people flat down Miles Court where Ruji-Babes grandad live before him die is still talk in the booth and the gold light still coming in low through the window and she just go, ‘Yeah Rooj safe man,’ and didnt say nothing about that thief at all is it.
And Ruji-Babes is got some take out on her way back from the bank init. Only normally them two would try and eat after work cause them no like eat together in the shop. This is partly because them two like there privacy or whatever and partly because it felt a bit rude fe sit there and eat in front of your customer and have fe wipe your hand before you serve them and not wanting to eat and deal with other people money and then go back to eating when you dont know where there money been or if them guys wash there hands. But right now them no care about them thing cause them miss lunch init so is like a early tea and once she put them new box a top ups in the cabinet there Ruji-Babes just clear some space on the top a that lock up cabinet and spread out the Metro on the top and tear open that bag and lay out them naan breads and some little bag of salad or whatever like chop up lettuce and tomato and carrot and cucumber. And she also got some kebab and a tin-foil container with some tarka dal in it and them two just sat there in what left a that golden sun init and broke off bits a there naan and be dipping them in that dal and eating bits of salad with there fingers or whatever and while they was eating Ruji-Babes was chat away about something or other what the bank had said and this and that like something what happen or what they seen from the car up Romford Road and Foxy-T was just eat like automatic init and she be listening and day dreaming in that boyish way that she had of not really listening and not really saying much except to say yeah or seen or whatever. And thats what she was sometimes like anyway so Ruji-Babes didnt think anything different than usual but believe me Foxy-T was well distract and shook up inside and trembling with the memory of that thief and still feel that way him a look right inside her. And when they finish eating and all them food containers was chuck in the bin outside and Ruji-Babes a screw up that newspaper and then wipe down the top a the counter or whatever Foxy-T just went and stand in the doorway looking back down the street the way that thief had driven off in him Golf. That little robber what had look right inside her and understood what she was all about or so it seem to her when she was standing there. And she reckonise that way he had of look at her because that was the way she had of look at thing sometimes when she knowed everything about it and understood it and felt like it was a part of her or something she had control over like them computer what she knowed everything about and can see what they is doing and what they is try fe do and what they is gonna do in spite a that. She could remember him eyes and the way him look at her and the way she felt that she was part of him. And the way him look over him shoulder at her from down the street before he got in him Golf as if he was invite her fe follow him. Like him invite her fe come join him but also like him a laugh at her inside the same way that she would sometimes have that secret smile on her face and all when she looked at them computer or at some stupid boy what is try fe chat her up. So she was shake up cause she recognise him manner in herself init.
And the sun going down by this time and that golden light disappeared init. And it getting cold and start fe get dark and from inside the shop Ruji-Babes is call her name and going, ‘T! I think this phone is busted because that call what that old guy was making didn’t come up on the screen is it. Was it working when you log him in?’
And that Foxy-T probaly couldnt even remember if she even logged that man in fe start with though she must of init because otherwise him wouldnt of been able to make him call or nothing but fe true she couldnt remember nothing else about it and she knowed that she didnt keep a check on the screen or whatever when him talking or even probaly look fe check the time him hung up and finish or whatever. So she couldnt say nothing really to Ruji-Babes except like shrug her shoulder and go, ‘Yeah.’
But she come back in the shop and step over anyway fe take a look at the phone then she come over fe check it up on the screen and then she found
it and say to Ruji-Babes, ‘Oh yeah look man I just save it to the wrong account init.’ Then she just drag it over the right account and everything sorted. Only it wasnt sort is it since her mind still out there in the evening streets where them buses was going past with there lights on and people all coming home from work and shutting up them shop and a wait fe them chicken and chip or whatever and she just thinking about that cheeky little thief and she want fe grab that machete and slash that vinyl on the roof of him Golf or smash him tinted window them with the baseball bat.
She didnt say nothing to Ruji-Babes about it that night when they was upstairs after they done all the locking up and shutting up shop and pulling down the shutter. She didnt say nothing at all not till like on Sunday when they was watching Antique Roadshow and she just went, ‘Yeah Rooj, this thief come in the other day but he didnt nick nothing.’
And Ruji-Babes was like surprise and goes, ‘When was this? Why didnt you say nothing T?’
And Foxy-T was like, ‘Well him no try fe nick anything but I know say him a robber init but I was like too surprise to do nothing. I dont know man.’
Ruji-Babes couldnt believe her ears probaly and she went like, ‘What you didnt do nothing at all? Not even phone the police them?’
‘No,’ says Foxy-T. ‘Him just a stand there lookin at me like him daring me fe pick up that machete init only him knowed I wouldnt do nothing.’
Ruji-Babes was getting right jumpy and going, ‘Them little bastard thief aint afraid of nothin T! What we gonna do when they aint even afraid of us is it. What use are them baseball bat and machete when they aint even afraid a them thing. I wish youd a took that knife like in Crocodile Dundee init and scared the shit out of him. That fuckin little thief I tell you!’
‘No I know man,’ says Foxy-T. ‘But I been keeping my eye out for if I see him again so I can make a note of him registration or whatever but I aint seen him at all is it. I dont think that thief from round here cause I aint seen him before. Maybe he come from up Whitechapel or something.’
‘Well I dont think he be coming back now is it,’ says Ruji-Babes. ‘Cause him know we know what him a look like. The cheeky little bastard! Fucking hell man I tell you if I see him I’m gonna cuff him one with my baseball bat init. That would get him well scare init.’
But after that Ruji-Babes probaly forgot about him really. Just got angry when she think about thief in general not nothing special about this one robber what Foxy-T was talking about.
And Foxy-T probaly didnt even think about him much neither not on purpose anyway. Just when she was shake out her pony tail and stand there on one leg with her hands clasp upon her head and try fe like figure out what was wrong with one a them computer she would be day dreaming in another part of her head because thats the way she used to think by half thinking about something and then half not thinking about it. And whenever she was do this she wouldnt be able to help it but that little thief looking over him shoulder at her like he was invite her to get in his car was what pop into her head. That and the way him just stand there and stare straight in her eyes across the lock up cabinet as if to say him knowed everything about her. And this went on for ages man. Like if she was changing the tariffs on the database for all them different phone cards when the rates went up or whatever she probaly find herself thinking about that thief. Or if she standing on the counter and stickin up them new A4 sheets on the window what advertise them different rates then she maybe find herself thinking about that thief. And even just when she wasnt doing nothing but like check her hair in the mirror in there downstairs toilet out the back of the shop it would sometimes be just like it was that litle thief what was look back out the mirror at her. And them kind of time she could smell him hair gel and him leather jacket and everything. And remember thing she hadnt even notice at the time like him gold earring them and the sleepy dust in the corner of him eye. Like if she was make some coffee upstairs to bring one down to Ruji-Babes at the front when it was a bit quiet and there was nothing on the radio then it would probaly be that fucking thief she was think about. It was doing her head in man believe me.
She soon start and find some reason fe go down Bigland way what she never done since she left school. If she was going up town or whatever instead of going up Whitechapel and catch the 25 she change her habit and start fe go down Shadwell and get the DLR just cause thats the way that him drive away init. She would tell Ruji-Babes that it was quicker and that fe go this way but really it was because she a look for that thief even though she never knowed what she gonna do if she seen him. And after a while just going down that way by Watney Market was enough fe make Foxy-T feel that same way as when him looking at her up the E-Z Call. She just feel all strip open and expose init. Like he could see everything she a think even though him not there. It was like over them few weeks that way of feeling become a part of her personality and it was addictive man. She kind of half like feeling that way and all init though she probaly didnt admit it to no one. Not to herself and certainly not Ruji-Babes. But she found all kind a reason fe go down Shadwell. Believe me whether she knowed it or not she was hook man. Like crack only she didnt know it seen.
And Foxy-T was also start fe look at like other man she seen around the place whether customer or whatever just fe check them and see if she feel that same type of feeling what that thief make her feel. She never say nothing to Ruji-Babes about it and probaly didnt even think about it herself is it just she was doing this automatic and probaly never knowed she was doing it. And if Ruji-Babes a notice the way Foxy-T behave she didnt say nothing even if she was feel a bit panic or whatever cause man know that Ruji-Babes pay nuff attention to Foxy-T she have fe notice init but this would happen whether they was in the Quality Food Store or up the cash and carry or whatever. But also even though Foxy-T a tell Ruji-Babes about that thief she never tell her how him make her feel is it. So this was a big part of Foxy-T what she was hide from Ruji-Babes all through the rest of that summer whether she mean to keep thing from Ruji-Babes or not. And sometime like if they was on one of there walks what they might take on a Sunday and go down by the river it be like Foxy-T head was spinning around cause she just have fe check each and every one a them man she see. And also since Foxy-T well fit nuff man was always look at her and all init and she not afraid to catch there eye that Foxy-T only what she was a look for in them eyes she never find so them bloke would be cant believe there luck init to get some fit girl eye them up they think and them man try fe smile at her or whatever only by the time they done that she already knowed that they aint that type of man what make her feel like that thief done and she aint even look at them no more. And man know that Ruji-Babes must a notice this init only she never say nothing. And all the rest of that summer Foxy-T was act like this and just like look at nuff man init where ever they was and each time she was like hope and expect them fe have that same type of effect on her what that thief done only they never is it.
And them week go pass and soon it be like autumn again and the two a them hate that time of year man because you always have fe keep that door shut and it was a drafty cold place E-Z Call was. They had a couple of them Calor gas heaters what they could wheel around and heat the place up and that but if you got the door shut them things are rank and make your eyes sting and your throat all dry init. And them fume make Ruji-Babes contacts hurt and all and she just be sit there and her eyes is all red and stinging man and she just feel like cry with frustration sometimes. And them two a hate that time of year cause it mean winter on the way and thats even worse cause it felt like they was living in the dark init. Cause by the time it got light in the morning they be open up the shop and then it soon be dark again and they never got out in the light during the day so by the time they shut up shop and that it was like another day gone by and they never seen the sun. They was both the kind of people what at least like to get out for some kind of walk in the day whether its just down the Quality Food Store fe get some biscuits or whatever or one a them longer walks what
they would take in the summer on like a Sunday when they shut up shop for the day and walk down Tower Bridge and just stand on them jetty out over the river down by the OXO and just look at the water and have some kind of quiet chat between the two of them. Both a them love them kind of walks by the river and they was them special kind of time init but in the winter it seem like you never get a chance fe get out and when you did man you was freezing whatever way you wrap up. Aint worth a walk down the river in that kind of rain and wind is it. And the worse thing about them dark days and long nights was that Ruji-Babes got even more afraid of robbers and thief what might come in the shop after whatever them could carry away. Foxy-T wasnt so afraid of that as Ruji-Babes but she just felt slow and heavy in the winter and knowed that they probaly argue more than usual when they was all shut up inside like that with no easy way fe just chill.
Still they would enjoy some of them evenings when like they would shut up at maybe eight or something when it was obvious no one was gonna come and make no calls or whatever. On them rainy nights when you aint gonna go down the E-Z Call to get no photocopies or make no calls. Them kind of nights when everyone just want fe curl up warm at home and watch telly and turn up the heating on full. No one gonna go down the E-Z Call on a night like that unless its desperate or something is it. And them nights would get a bit heavy sometimes because Ruji-Babes would be all chit chat and bustling around. Like that one always have fe do something or be fussing over someone init and because it was just the two a them the person she usually be fuss over is Foxy-T. Whereas Foxy-T could just sit quiet in the warm and like read when them watch telly or something without feel no need for chat or fuss or nothing. But that telly would just make Ruji-Babes get even more fidgety. She was one of them kind of people what cant relax at all sometimes. And as them day pass and it get darker and darker it seem to them two that is more and more night like that and neither of them two is think anything a go change and them just in for pure hard winter seen.